Sophie B. Hawkins Joins Pride Day Performance at The Great New York State Fair August 23, 2024

American pop legend Sophie B. Hawkins will take the Chevy Court stage at The Great New York State Fair at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 23, 2024. A native New Yorker and dynamic creative force known for a spellbinding live show, Hawkins’ appearance at The Fair is part of her tour celebrating the 30^th anniversary of her platinum-selling debut album, Tongues and Tails.

The Grammy^® nominated singer/songwriter/musician will showcase music from her well-received recently released album, Free Yourself, featuring original new video and the single, “Love Yourself,” a soul-stirring piece of symphonic pop threaded with Hawkins’s true-to-life storytelling—an undeniable anthem for rising above negativity of all kinds and embracing absolute self-love, a fitting celebration to complement The Fair’s Pride Day festivities.

Hawkins emerged on the musical landscape with the arrival of Tongues and Tails, and its iconic lead single “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” and defied categorization embracing her individuality by embodying a daring fluidity as a musician. She challenged the norms of gender expression and sexual orientation at a time when political, social, and sexual labels were more rigid.

Sophie’s career arc includes releasing six widely beloved albums, breaking chart records with her smash hit “As I Lay Me Down,” four worldwide singles from Whaler, songs in cultural touchstone TV shows and films (from recent hits Stranger Things, Euphoria, Ozark, and PEN15, to landmark series Beverly Hills, 90210, Dawson’s Creek, The L Word and more), and a starring role as Janis Joplin in the critically acclaimed musical Room 105.

“We’re so excited to have Sophie B. Hawkins joining us at The Great New York State Fair,” Fair Interim Director Julie LaFave said. “With an incredible ability to transcend boundaries, connect with audiences of all ages, and encourage self-love and expression, her music is a great addition to our lineup of incredible artists already set to rock the Fair’s stages. Summer can’t come soon enough!”

In total, The Fair’s Chevrolet Music Series will feature 39 national recording acts. There will be a daily 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. concert at Chevy Court (located near Gate 1), and a daily 8 p.m. concert at Suburban Park (located on the western end of the Fairgrounds, beyond the Midway).

All concerts announced so far are provided in the charts below. Fair staff will continue to update schedules on the Fair’s website at pages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park.

Chevy Court:

Suburban Park:

Founded in 1841, the Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about the Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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